updated 04:40 pm EST, Fri December 7, 2007

ATI DisplayPort-ready card

AMD has revealed the first video card with a native DisplayPort connection, the RV635 XT. While specifications on the card itself are not yet available, more information on DisplayPort has emerged as a result. The technology is eventually intended to replace DVI and VGA connections, and may well produce competition for HDMI, in part because it is also capable of 24-bit, eight-channel audio. DisplayPort connections also contain a dedicated auxiliary link, which can be used for panel I/O and mic connections.

Another elevating factor is the absence of TMDS chips, which add extra cost to dual-link DVI-D connections in products like video cards. DisplayPort cables can likewise be used to daisy-chain devices, meaning that a single RV635 could in theory supply graphics to three or more monitors simultaneously. No date or price for the AMD card has been set. [viaHotHardware]